Springboks given deadline

RUGBY

SYDNEY: World champion South Africa has been handed a 48hour deadline to resolve internal issues and confirm its participation in the Rugby Championship, governing body Sanzaar said yesterday.

The southern hemisphere championship, which also includes Australia, New Zealand and Argentina, will be held entirely in Australia this year because of the Covid19 pandemic.

Rugby South Africa said last weekend that ‘‘several hurdles’’ needed to be cleared before it could confirm the Springboks’ participation and that it hoped to make a decision early this week.

With the tournament set to begin in Sydney on October 31 and the Springboks scheduled to play their first match against Argentina on November 7, however, time is running out to get the players into Australia and through quarantine.

‘‘The Sanzaar member unions have agreed to provide South Africa Rugby with an additional 48 hours to finalise its internal stakeholder discussions,’’ Sanzaar said in a statement.

‘‘This will now delay the scheduled departure of the Springboks from South Africa to Australia.

‘‘Sanzaar will provide an update on the resolution of these discussions and a timetable for the Springboks participation in the Rugby Championship when available in the coming days.’’

The delay in the departure of the South African players means the match schedule seems almost certain to be changed but Sanzaar said the tests between Australia and New Zealand on October 31 and November 7 would go ahead as planned.

The South African Government lifted the ban on international sporting participation earlier this month but SA Rugby said it was seeking further clarification on the regulations.

There has been widespread concern in South Africa’s rugby community that its players are a long way from being ready for the intensity of the competition.

South African rugby returned to action only two weeks ago after a long Covid19 lockdown and the domestic Super Rugby competition started last weekend.

New Zealand and Australia have, by contrast, already completed their Super Rugby competitions and played a Bledisloe Cup test in Wellington last weekend, drawing 1616.

The Pumas squad is already training in a biosecure bubble in Sydney despite several players and coach Mario Ledesma testing positive for Covid19 during their preparatory camp in Argentina. — Reuters